Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project

Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project is a 2,640 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station proposed by East Coast Energy to be constructed in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Project Details
Sponsor: East Coast Energy Location: Bhavanadadu, Andhra Pradesh Capacity: 2640 MW Projected in service: Status: Proposed Coal source:

Cronyism Charges
According to The Times of India, the chairman of East Coast Energy is T Sankarlingnam, former chairman of National Thermal Power Corporation. One of the directors of East Coast Energy, P Balraj, previously served as chairman of the union environment ministry's expert appraisal committee for thermal and coal power projects at the time that Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project received its clearances.

One blogger wrote that the project was a product of "crony capitalism":
 * The 2640 MW Bhavanapadu coal-based thermal power plant near Kakarapalli is being developed by East Coast Energy Private Limited (ECEPL). If you look out for the promoters of this company in their website, you would find that Athena Energy Ventures Pvt Ltd (AEVPL), AIP Power Pvt Ltd (AIP) and PTC India Financial Services Ltd are among them. All these 3 promote another company Athena Demwe Power Limited for a hydro-electric project in Arunchal Pradesh. If you look at the board of directors of this company, you find a certain Mr. A. Balraj. Mr Balraj is a retired IAS officer and more interestingly, the chairman of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), the same which recommended the environmental clearance for the Kakarapalli!

The following details of this Environmental clearance are available on the website of Ministry of Environment & Forests.
 * Project No: No:J- 13011/36/ 2008-IA II(T)
 * Project Name: 2640 MW Bhavanapadu TPP near Kakrapalli Village
 * District:Sri Kakulam
 * Village:no
 * Company:M/s East Coast Energy Pvt. Ltd.
 * Application for EC received: 18/03/2008
 * EC Approved: 09/04/2009

February 2011: Two killed, 25 injured in clashes
On February 28, 2011, in a set of clashes sparked by construction of Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project, police in Srikakulam fired into villagers, killing two people and injuring nearly 25 others. During the previous July, two people were killed in violence related to a separate proposed coal plant in the same district. The dead were identified as Sirapu Yerraiah (36) of Sirapuvani Peta and J. Nageswara Rao (35) of Akashalakkavaram. At least two of the injured were hit at close range with rubber bullets. Police used guns, teargas, and lathis against villagers, who used stones and sticks. After police threw smoke bombs in Vadditandra village, 50 houses were gutted. A police jeep was burned by villagers.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * India and coal

External resources

 * East Coast Energy

External articles

 * "How Crony Capitalism Lead to the Kakarapalli tragedy," The Argumentatitve Indian, March 1, 2011